Photo by samsphotoservices.com

Los Angeles, CA — Oxy men's soccer played host to the Bethesda University Lion Angels on Saturday night in a non-conference matchup at Patterson Field. 

The Tigers entered the game at 7-1-3 on the year looking to keep their solid play going, coming off of a 0-0 tie with the Chapman Panthers on Wednesday night. Oxy would get things going quickly with a goal nearly 8 minutes into the game on a beautiful kick from Parris Pappas that got through the Bethesda keeper. 

Pappas would strike again only 10 minutes later after being set up perfectly on a cross from his teammate, and the Tigers led 2-0 early on in the 1st half of the game. Oxy continued to create shots all half, stifling the Lion Angel's defense consistently. 

Just before the end of the half, Oxy got on the board once again thanks to a corner kick from Kai Fiedelholtz that set up a header for Joshua Hamlett that snuck by the keeper and into the goal for the 3rd goal of the half. 

Oxy continued to put the pressure on Bethesda to start the 2nd half. Oxy drew a foul just outside the box and capitalized on the opportunity by getting off a nice shot from Aryan Amin that forced the keeper to make a nice save to prevent the goal. 

Another foul drawn by the Tigers led to a shot from Kai Fiedelholtz that just barely flew too high over the goal and out of play. Oxy forced the Bethesda keeper's hand later on with 28:30 in the game when Tyler Na-Nakornpanom got off a strong shot at the goal, with the Bethesda keeper again making a nice save to prevent a score. 

After multiple chances in the second half, Oxy broke through for another goal by Tyler Na-Nakornpanom who was set up by Justin Nishimoto for the Tigers' fourth goal of the game. Oxy continued to find chances of their own without giving Bethesda many opportunities to create any offense. 

The Tigers nearly got on the board for a 5th time when Andrew Lee was set up by a pretty pass and sent a header straight towards the back of the net that forced the Bethesda keeper to make the save with a dive. 

Bethesda would test Oxy's keeper Carlos Abram with 11:30 left in the game, but he would make a save by forcing the ball out of bounds, keeping the Lion Angeles off the board. The TIgers would immediately go down the field after and score their 5th goal of the game on a goal from Justin Nishimoto into the left corner of the goal, assisted by Kai Fiedelholtz who set it up with a cross. 

It was an impressive offensive showing for men's soccer, who moves to 8-1-3 on the year after the 5-0 win over Bethesda. The next time the Tigers take the pitch will be Wednesday, October 16th when they travel to take on the CMS Stags in a SCIAC matchup.